Mid-City Restaurants Mid-City is, as the name suggests, right smack in the middle of the city, at the heart of New Orleans. It stretches along both sides of palm tree-lined Carrollton Avenue, following the streetcar tracks that start downtown and head towards City Park. These restaurants are less flashy, but still delicious and have families of devoted regulars. Some of them, like Brocato's and Ye Olde College Inn, have been around since the early parts of the 20th century. Asian Pacific Café 3125 Esplanade Ave. New Orleans, LA 70119 504-945-1919 A fairly new addition to the New Orleans dining scene, this restaurant is located inside of an old house, so park on the street in the surrounding charming neighborhood. It should come as no big surprise that the menu focuses on Asian food with a Hawaiian accent, as well as offering sushi. Try the Bayou Delight, which is crawfish and snow crab with pineapple, mango and special sauce. Patio dining is available; no reservations. Fellini’s Café 900 N. Carrollton Ave. New Orleans, LA 70119 504-488-2155 A patio with a view of Carrollton Avenue and a menu of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern inspired food combine to make Fellini’s a perfect choice for lunch or a casual dinner. The building used to house a gas station, which explains the odd but character-lending shape. Try anything with shrimp, artichokes and the warm, pillowy lavash bread. Venezia 134 N. Carrollton Ave. New Orleans, LA 70119 504-488-7991 website Venezia has been in its current location for the past 50 years, and all of the New Orleans history it’s been soaking in is evident from the feel of the place right when you walk in the door. Advertising “traditional, home-cooked Italian food” hits the nail on the head. Classics like Veal Parmesan and Spaghetti and Meatballs sit next to Eggplant Vatican and stone oven-baked pizzas, making decisions difficult, but have no fear: Any which way, you’ll walk out wishing you’d worn an elastic waistband. But it’ll be worth it. Angelo Brocato 214 N Carrollton Ave. New Orleans, LA 70119 504-486-1465 website Despite their location in a neighborhood that was under feet of water post-Katrina, Angelo Brocato’s re-opened about a year afterwards with a big cause for celebration. It was their 101st anniversary! Obviously, anything that’s been going on for that long has to be good, and you’d be right to assume that. Their homemade gelatos and Italian ices (lemon is the store’s best seller) use passed-down Sicilian recipes to cool down hot summer days. The mini cannoli are hand-stuffed while you wait and tied up in a box with an old-timey string bow. Also for sale are homemade spumoni and a huge variety of Italian cookies. Perfetto! Closed on Mondays. Ye Olde College Inn 3000 S. Carrollton Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-866-3683 website Don’t get confused if you look in an old phonebook: The new College Inn re-located right next door to the old one. Either way, you should be able to tell what’s what when you get there judging by which building has people eating messy-delicious roast beef po’boys on top of white linen tablecloths. Ye Olde College Inn has been around since 1933 and evolved right along with the city; the regulars find their same spots at the bar every night. If you eat here first, you’ll get a discount at Rock’n’Bowl lanes right down the road, since the same family owns both. Hit up a Zyde-Cajun breakfast on the weekends for good food and good music. Five Happiness 3605 S. Carrollton Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-482-3935 website Now open for almost three decades, Five Happiness is consistently voted as “Best Chinese Restaurant” by New Orleans Magazine and Gambit Weekly. No other Chinese restaurant seems to be able to replicate their brown-gravy and peanut covered Mandarin Chicken, with just a hint of cinnamon on a bed of lettuce. The chefs recommend House Baked Duck, Shrimp with Honey Roasted Pecan and Asparagus with Chicken. Big groups can rent the next door Imperial Room for private parties of up to 150 people. After Hurricane Katrina, the restaurant was completely renovated and remodeled; the dining room is “sleek and chic with subtle Asian feel.”